As the Farmer Relief and Freedom Relay, whose goal was to collect aid for Central California farmers rocked by environmental extremism and big government, prepares to head back home from a rally in Fresno with the suffering farmers, we reflect on the people we have met on the outbound trip.

Most pleasing was that people from all walks of life are upset by where the U.S. is heading — upset at the spurning of the Constitution and the un-American policies pushed by the current government.

Whether from the East Coast or from the wilds of Montana, people are concerned. Stops on the tour attracted all sorts: farmers, mountain men, and local talk show hosts. The vast majority were average folks eager to do what they could to help their fellow Americans. They gave what they could and did so with the generosity that the U.S. is so famous for.

There was great camaraderie at every stop, with people relieved to see so many others like them willing to show their support and fellowship. There were doctors, lawyers, and young adults. Many young Americans were far more clued in than their older compatriots, aware enough to be overwhelmingly against ObamaCare.

In Fresno, the three routes of the relay gathered to present Constitutions with signatures of attendees from the various rallies — and also to present the funds that were raised. The farmers and the local tea parties were there to greet the three routes and to thank them for their help. The Fresno Beereported on the efforts:

Daniel Blackford, an activist from San Jacinto, Texas, said the educational aspect of the relief effort is critical. “Today, it’s the delta smelt out here,” he said. “Tomorrow, it could be some microbe in the water in Tennessee or any of those other states.”

Journalists of whatever ilk that the relays encountered seemed to be positive and impressed by the efforts to help the farmers in California. The epic nature of the venture was rather hard to dismiss, and it was reassuring to all that even a reporter from ABC was hard-pressed to find a way to spin it negatively.

“Now they got the message … they’re getting organized to help us with whatever we need to do here,” Piedad Ayala said.

Organizers say they were able to raise $20,000 dollars in donations, and they filled three semi trucks with food, clothing and toys for Valley families battling unemployment because of the water crisis.

“If these pumps don’t run, no matter how much it rains, we’re not going to have the water we need to farm with next year, especially on the west side.”

The farmers and laborers that attended the event were pleased to hear about the current fundraising total, as well as the large amount of food that was provided by tea parties closer to Fresno.

The plight of the farmers in Fresno is not just a local issue — the upcoming cap and trade legislation will have similar effects on other industries. People across the U.S. are recognizing that the socialist, big government, statist method of controlling people’s lives will soon affect them. Those men and women who traveled thousands of miles across the U.S. are tired, yet heartened to know their quest was a successful one both in terms of fundraising and awareness.

Now it’s time for those they have met to keep the pressure going — and to get the water turned back on for the suffering farmers.

12 Comments, 12 Threads

Color me pessimistic, but the previous support of California’s farmers and laborers for statist policies that favored them merely shows me that they’ll go statist or non-statist according to what suits their immediate interests. When the water starts flowing again, they’ll go back to demanding their subsidies, bilingual education, hate crimes legislation, the whole mess.

My heart goes out to the people in the Central Valley. But I think it is time to tell some truths here. This is not about the delta smelt or any other fish, bird, or dog. This is about water and who owns it. Currently the farmers of Central Valley own the rights to the water. That correct they own them. It has been that way since the irrigation canals and pumps were built. That is right, they have a legal right to a certain ammount of water. California needs water for its cities. It requires vast sums of money to aguire more water for same. How can more water be brought in without spending a dime?
The Central Valley farmers are not going to give up water rights, so how can we get them? Use the legal system to starve them out. Works great doesn’t it. Rap that around your mind and see if it fits. You tell me why else would the governments (plural) be willing to accept a hefty increase in canned good prices and a starving local population during a bad recession.
Other communities, Phoneix et al are buying water rights from farmers, turning the desert back to desert to increase their water supplies. Its cheaper than dams, piplines, pumps, electricity etc. So lets all get real here. The governments see a cheaper way to supply west coast cities with more water. If the farmers of Central Valley don’t want to get on the band wagon and move on, tough *****!

California produces more food than any other state, way more. If the farmers can not grow crops how is the rest of the country going to eat? Food prices are already starting to go higher, and they will go much higher, it is the unalterable law of supply and demand in action.

When California’s cities, teeming with liberal elitiests, illegals and government dependents see their food supply drying up (literally) before their eyes, they might think twice about the radical policies and actions of those they’ve elected.

And after the government has paid the farmers their pittance and confiscated the farmland, I’m certain those same urban elitists and welfare-dependents will be more than happy to hand-pick lettuce and tomatoes, as directed by the State.

Saltherring, I’d do the cycle of destruction a little differently: food supply dries up -> doesn’t affect the Pelosi/Hollywood/Berkeley elites because they’re filthy-wealthy anyway -> however, illegal aliens and other state dependents ARE affected -> middle class is taxed at the insistence of aforementioned elites to subsidize aforementioned dependents -> as a bonus the middle class also gets called racist when they complain about this -> California eventually just goes bust, which is pretty much happening now.

It will be interesting to follow the fortunes of the next California governor.

Don’t you just long to see Pelosi and Waxman, gunnysacks in hand, gleaning picked-over potato fields, or better yet…..shoveling out calf barns? I’ve done both on many occasions during my life and it’s not an althgether bad thing. A little humility might teach silver-spoon elites like Pelosi, and yes, Obama, to respect those who’ve had to work all their lives just to eat.

Funny thing is that the Delta Smelt is not endangered. The Redbook listing of B1+2C is first of all “administrative” that is based on supposition and not actual population studies and second of all it was classified in 1996 and is out of date.

A little background on Hypomesus transpacificus; It is a forage species. It has a very high fecundity ( population doubling time less then 15 months). It has a very short lifetime (about a year). Its vulnerability rating is low( 16 of 100). It is anadromous and able to tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions. Its population is very difficult to measure and no valid population studies have ever been done. Taken together we have an organism who’s population is naturally variable and cyclic and indeterminate. The main determiner of population is predation from species such as the introduced Striped bass!

This is just the type of species that the envirowacos look for in order to further there anti-human Marxist agenda. The timing of the Redbook classification (by a non-ichthyologist) just when the moonbats were looking for any way to shut down water to farmers and to seize control of their land is highly suspicious.

Why is no one calling into question the endangered status of this fish?

The Leftists have taken over California thanks to Los Angeles & San Francisco. What do you have? A state on the verge of economic collapse thanks to the liberals overspending for their pet projects & cronies. As a result, thousands of Californians are fleeing their own nightmare they created to spread to other states with their liberal politics. Just see Nevada, Arizona, & Colorado for the results. Many others have fled further South to Texas & Florida.

President Obama wants to model the entire United States on California. Why? I think Obama wants the USA to collapse so his Leftist thugs can take it over like Hugo Chavez or Fidel Castro.

Wow, I thought this was abotu Americans helpign Americans but I guess the arrogance of the Administratioand the SAC elite has managed to find it’s way into the psyche on teh average man. That’s too bad. I just thought when people heard that farmers who grow 25% of this Nations food were now stnading in food lines to be given carrots coming from China, people woudl be upset. But I suppose unless it’s third world that’s going hungry no one cares.
This is a question of humanity beyond the control of government and if you believe it’s great to have the Federal government come into your state and cut off water, power , whatever than so be it. Move to CA!!

What happened to all of this rhetoric about state’s rights people? Where is your anger over forced higher food prices, government control of water? Why are sitting back adn saying we deserve this? What the hell happened to your humanity America!